CAR President Resigns

Regional leaders say the Central African Republic's president has agreed to resign, after months of chaos and deadly sectarian violence in his country.

The resignation of Michel Djotodia was announced Friday after a two-day summit of the 10-nation Economic Community of Central African States in Chad.

The statement also said Prime Minister Nicolas Tiengaye will step down.

There has been no comment from Mr. Djotodia, who went to Chad's capital, N'djamena, for the summit.

Mr. Djotodia's government had denied reports that regional leaders would use the summit to urge him to go.

However, some ECCAS members had reportedly become frustrated with the president's attempts to curb violence that has left more than 1,000 people dead and displaced more than 900,000 others.

Reporter Nick Long is in the CAR's capital, Bangui. He told VOA that people cheered as they heard news of the president's resignation.

Mr. Djotodia came to power after mostly Muslim Seleka rebels toppled former President Francois Bozize last March.

However, abuses by the former rebels triggered the creation of Christian militia groups and a cycle of escalating violence that drove people from their homes. An estimated 100,000 people are now camped out around the Bangui airport.

Increased deployments of French and African peacekeepers have had only minor impact, and continued violence has hampered efforts by relief workers to help those in need.